Abstract

Aims. To determine whether the erythrocyte phosphorylated ribavirin (RBV) level might be a useful index of EVR and risk of anemia and to determine the optimal dose of RBV in 24 patients with hepatitis C with pegylated interferon and RBV. Methodology. The RBV level was measured by a high-performance liquid chromatography. Results and Conclusion. In patients aged 50 years or over, a negative correlation (𝑟=−0.548, 𝑃<.05) was observed between the RBV level at week 2 and rate of Hb reduction (ΔHb) at week 4. The ΔHb at week 4 was significantly greater in patients with RBV levels of ≥800 𝜇M (−25.5±10.1%) than in patients with RBV levels <800 𝜇M (−15.6±7.7%). None of the patients with RBV levels <600 𝜇M at week 2 achieved EVR and SVR. Thus the optimal levels of erythrocyte phosphorylated RBV at week 2 of therapy in order to achieve EVR without anemia seemed to be 600–800 𝜇M.